Bottle crate



April 11, 1939.

J. F. MAURER. JR

BOTTLE CRATE F-iled Nov. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 172 31, I a 1 /o 27 INVENTOR. Jmw F. MAURER/ JR.

ATTORNEYS A ril 11, 1939. J. F. MAURER. JR

BOTTLE CRATE Filed Nov. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /////////Az Y//6 .IP r 1/ ./////A///Za7//// VA/4 R m/ we EE M F M u M m ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to bottle crates and refers more particularly to an improved element which constitutes a combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member, the same being a continuation in part of co-pending application, Serial No. 135,460, filed April '7, 1937.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member which is preferably constructed from a single sheet of material such as sheet metal, which is cut, bent and formed by means of dies to provide a unitary structure which may be economically produced and incorporated in the crate structure without the necessity of resorting to rivets, bolts, screws or other equivalent securing devices.

It is also the purpose of the present invention to provide a combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning element which is equipped with yieldable elastic buffer elements which, in addition to isolating and insulating the bottles from each other so as to eliminate noise and breakage, prevents scratching of the bottle surfaces and marring of stenciled lettering or indicia on the bottles.

Another salient feature of the invention resides in the provision of a combined ice shelf and bottle partitioning element for bottle crates which is so constructed, arranged and reenforced that the same may be fashioned from a thin gage light weight material, while possessing the requisite strength and without increasing materially the weight of the crate.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is disclosed, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention, while the appended claims are intended to cover modifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bottle crate equipped with an improved ice Supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the vertical side and end walls of the crate structure which are preferably of wood and either of single panel or slatted construction as shown, are designated respectively by the reference characters l0 and II. The side and end walls are assembled and retained in assembled relation by any suitable type of corner units l2 and the crate structure is provided with ho-rizontal bottle supporting rods l3 adjacent the bottom thereof.

The combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member which is designated generally by the reference character |5 is constructed as a unit for incorporation in the crate structure and constitutes the present invention. This unit is fashioned from a single piece of sheet metal such as galvanized iron which is cut, bent and formed by means of dies to provide a horizontal panel [6 conforming generally to the horizontal shape of the crate and slightly larger than the area defined by the inner surfaces of the side and end walls. The panel 16 is provided with longitudinal and transverse rows of substantially circular openings l l which are slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of standard milk bottles in order to freely receiver said bottles.

In order to obtain a maximum rigidity and strength from a minimum gage and weight of sheet metal, the shelf and partitioning member I5 is provided with continuous transverse ribs I8 extending from one opposite side edge to the other between the longitudinal rows 'of openings ll, said ribs being formed by offsetting the material upwardly without drawing or thinning the material.

In addition to the ribs 18, longitudinally extending interrupted beads l9 are pressed upwardly from the panel Hi, the endmost portions 19 extending from the marginal end edges of the panel to points adjacent the transverse ribs and the intermediate bead portions extending from a point adjacent one rib [8 to a point adjacent the next transverse rib, the interrupted beads or bead portions l9 being located between the transverse rows of openings IT. The shelf and partitioning member 15 is further strengthened by circumferential downturned flanges 20 at the edges of the panel defining the openings ll. It will be observed that the openings I'l adjacent the corners and marginal side and end edges of the panel open therethrough leaving spaces or notches in the marginal edges which permit the'bottles in said openings to contact with the wooden side and end walls.

In order to prevent contact of the bottles with the shelf and partitioning member l5 so as to eliminate noise and to prevent scratching of the bottle surfaces, depending fingers 2| formed integral with the flanges 20 are spaced circumferentially with reference to the openings I! to support yieldable elastic buffer elements 22, the surfaces of which protrude radially inward beyond the peripheries of the openings. As shown, the

fingers 2| of adjacent openings are so arranged as to mate with each other and said fingers are provided with Vertically extending slots 23 so that each pair of mating fingers clamps therebetween a buffer element with opposite portions of the element protruding from the slots to project beyond the peripheries of adjacent bottle receiving openings. serve to confine the buffer elements against vertical movement, while the lower ends of mating pairs of fingers are secured against separation by means of a lug 24 formed on one and being bent around the other. The medial portions of the lower ends of the fingers are bent inwardly toward each other as at 25 so as to contact with each other. In order to strengthen the fingers, vertically extending beads 26 are pressed from the fingers and are arranged on opposite sides of the slots.

The ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member I5 is supported horizontally within the crate by engaging the marginal side and end edges of the panel in grooves 2'! formed in the inner surfaces of the side walls and H and the grooves 27 are provided with offset communicating portions 28 which also receive the terminals of the ribs l8 and the strengthening beads i 9. This makes for an effective and economical means for assembling the shell and partitioning member IS with the crate walls and eliminates the necessity of employing nails, screws, rivets or equivalent fastening elements of this nature.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member has been devised which may be cut, bent and formed from a single sheet of metal and in which all the portions thereof are integral with the exception of the buffer elements which are clampingly retained in place. In addition to performing its function, the shelf and partitioning member also braces and strengthens the crate structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member for bottle crates fashioned from a single sheet of material, cut, bent and formed to provide a horizontal panel having longitudinal and transverse rows of bottle receiving openings, vertically slotted depending fingers integral with the panel and circumferentially spaced with reference to said openings, the adjacent pairs of fingers of adjacent openings being disposed in parallel mating relation, means at the lower ends of the fingers for securing together the ends thereof, and yieldable elastic buffer elements clamped by each pair of mating fingers with opposite portions of said buffers protruding from the finger slots to project beyond the peripheries of the bottle receiving openings.

2. A combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member for bottle crates fashioned from a single sheet of material, cut, bent and formed to provide a horizontal panel having longitudinal and transverse rows of bottle receiving openings with downturned continuous annular fianges at the edges of the portions of the panel defining the openings, vertically slotted depending fingers integral with the flanges and circumferentially spaced with reference to said openings, the adjacent pairs of fingers of adjacent openings being disposed in parallel mating relation, means at the lower ends of the fingers for securing together the lower ends thereof, and

The upper and lower ends of the slots yieldable elastic buffer elements clamped by each pair of mating fingers with opposite portions of said buffers protruding from the finger slots to project inwardly beyond the peripheries of the bottle receiving openings.

3. A combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member for bottle crates fashioned from a single sheet of material, cut, bent and formed to provide a horizontal panel having longitudinal and transverse rows of bottle receiving openings, vertically slotted depending fingers integral with the panel and circumferentially spaced with reference to said openings, the adjacent pairs of fingers of adjacent openings being disposed in parallel mating relation, a lug at the lower end of one of each pair of mating fingers bent around and connecting the other finger therewith, and yieldable elastic buffer elements clamped by each pair of mating fingers with opposite portions of said buffers protruding from the finger slots to project inwardly beyond the peripheries of the bottle receiving openings.

4. A combined ice supporting shelf and bottle partitioning member for bottle crates fashioned from a single sheet of material, cut, bent and formed to provide a horizontal panel having longitudinal and transverse rows of bottle receiving openings, upwardly offset continuous ribs exten-ding transversely of the panel between the transverse rows of bottle receiving openings, upwardly offset ribs extending longitudinally of the panel between the longitudinal rows of bottle receiving openings and located between the transverse ribs, downturned continuous annular flanges at the edges of the portions of the panel defining the openings, vertically slotted depending fingers integral with the flanges and circumferentially spaced with reference to the openings, vertically extending offset ribs on said fingers at opposite sides of the finger slots, the adjacent pairs of fingers of adjacent openings being disposed in parallel mating relation and secured together at their lower ends, and yieldable elastic buffer elements clamped between each pair of mating fingers with opposite portions of said buffers protruding from the finger slots and projecting inwardly beyond the peripheries of the openings.

5. In a bottle crate having vertical side and end walls, a combined ice supporting shelf and marginal portions of the panel and the ribs, verparallel mating relation and secured together at their lower ends, and yieldable elastic buffer elements clamped between each pair of mating fingers with opposite portions of said buffer elements protruding from the fingers slots and pro- .70 jecting inwardly beyond the peripheries of the openings.

JOHN F. MAURER. JR. 

